Three Years Into Covid, We Still Don’t Know How to Talk About It

How much are we still missing?

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story February 24, 2023 Ashley Gilbertson for The New York Times In this week's issue: Jon Mooallem on how we still don't know how to talk about the pandemic; Ross Barkan on the state of the New York Democratic Party and C.J. Chivers on how a prominent Iraq War veteran was undone by mental illness and a broken health care system. FEATURES Ashley Gilberton/VII, for The New York Times Three Years Into Covid, We Still Don't Know How to Talk About It Most Americans think they know the story of the pandemic. But when a writer immersed himself in a Covid oral-history project, he realized how much we're still missing. By Jon Mooallem and Photographs by Ashley Gilbertson Photo illustration by Pablo Delcan and Danielle Del Plato 'The Democratic Party in New York Is a Disaster' After losing crucial seats in the congressional midterms, a bitter civil war over the moribund state organization has spilled into the open. By Ross Barkan Photo illustration by Vanessa Saba. Source photographs: From the United States Military Academy; from the Fishback family; Owen Franken/Getty Images. Ian Fishback's American Nightmare He was a decorated soldier, a whistle-blower against torture. Then he was undone by his own mind — and a health care system that utterly failed him. By C.J. Chivers COLUMNS Mamadi Doumbouya for The New York Times TALK YouTube Made Emma Chamberlain a Star. Now She's Leaving it Behind. "I'm more interested in things being more creative rather than just pure entertainment — things that feel more beautiful." By David Marchese Illustration by Tomi Um THE ETHICIST I Think My Friend Could Be Autistic. Do I Tell Her? The magazine's Ethicist columnist on broaching a difficult topic with a loved one. By Kwame Anthony Appiah Chris Simpson for The New York Times. Food stylist: Maggie Ruggiero. Prop stylist: Pamela Duncan Silver. EAT This Fried Rice Is a Fridge-Raid Meal and a Party Dish Pepper Teigen's rolicking recipe fuses the fruity warmth of Thai chiles and the sweet tartness of fresh pineapple. By Eric Kim Photo illustration by Ben Denzer. Source photograph: Peter Dazeley/The Image Bank via Getty Images. LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION Why I Watch the Closing Credits of Every Movie I See One look is enough to challenge the myth of the genius auteur calling all the shots. By Emma Kantor Photo illustration by Mark Harris SCREENLAND Modern Dads Are Embarrassing. Which Just Might Be Good Politics. The Congressional Dads Caucus makes savvy use of its own faint goofiness. By Phillip Maciak Illustration by R. O. Blechman Poem: In Defense of Nothing Anyone familiar with the concept of the "1990s" might recognize the cunning of this poem's slacker mood. By Peter Gizzi and Anne Boyer Illustration by Louise Zergaeng Pomeroy Judge John Hodgman on Tipping When You Split the Bill Is it rude to ask what your dinner companion is leaving? By John Hodgman Stay in touch: Like this email? Forward it to a friend and help us grow. Loved a story? Hated it? Write us a letter at magazine@nytimes.com. Did a friend forward this to you? Sign up here to get the magazine newsletter. Listen to narrated versions of our articles every week. Download Audm for iPhone or Android. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The New York Times Magazine from The New York Times. To stop receiving The New York Times Magazine, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018